"Laws Don't Apply to Us"

SPIEGEL cover story: Thousands of Muslim women live in Germany under their husbands' yokes, locked away in their apartments, helpless in the face of physical abuse and forced marriage. Lacking the opportunity for integration they vanish into a parallel world that is dominated by fundamentalist household tyrants. Particularly for Muslims with fundamental inclinations, Germany is a perfect world. Nowhere else in Europe are they able to live so freely in accordance with their strict religious interpretation. A study commissioned by the German ministry of family affairs two months ago has revealed some frightening facts. According to the study, Turkish women in Germany are disproportionately often victims of violent abuse; in addition to which the attacks are exceptionally severe. These Muslim women are victims of a brutal rule of men, but also of a German taboo which forbids the criticism of other cultures and religions. This doctrine developed in response to the bitter experiences of the Nazi era, when all things foreign were condemned, persecuted and wiped out.

"The Lost Daughters"

SPIEGEL report: Turkish girls in Germany who rebel against the traditions of their fathers risk a great deal, even their lives. They are betrothed in distant home villages, married off and locked away - or else they break out, like Fatma, Esma and Yasemin. They are very normal girls who only want to do what their German friends are allowed to do: to go to the cinema from time to time, to eat an ice-cream and to talk to boys - just talk to them. To fulfil such teenager dreams, they have had to break with their families, go underground, change their names and forge passports. They stand for a generation of immigrant children that is fighting the battle of the cultures. Every pair of jeans is a small victory, and those who are not married off against their will, somewhere back there, far away, in Turkey, are big winners. It is a rebellion against parents. It is a silent rebellion. Nothing is visible outside the home; because the girls have learnt to hide away; or else because they are not allowed out onto the street alone, ever. Many submit, a few manage to escape, far too many are broken. And those who resist have plenty to tell.

"Now Everyone Is Afraid"

SPIEGEL in-depth interview with author Harry Mulisch about the murder of film maker Theo van Gogh, the Islamist challenge to Europe and the end of a consensus-based society:

"We are still in a state of shock. The finance minister spoke of a war and was criticised for this. But that is of course the language of US President Bush: ‘War on terror'. The fact that the conflict is being enacted in this free and liberal country is once again an irony of history. … All the things that happen - cutting throats, the oppression of women - these aren't truly Islamic, I don't believe that. They are 8000-year-old tribal rituals. And if you want to blame Mohammed for anything, then for not abolishing these rituals but integrating them into his teachings instead. In that sense, Islam is a step backwards. … It's religion, better said monotheistic religion, that creates the problems. Nevertheless: it is stupid to treat an opponent as an enemy. But it is highly dangerous to treat an enemy as though he were only an opponent."

"That Hurts Me"

SPIEGEL in-depth interview with the president of the European Court of Human Rights, Luzius Wildhaber, about the controversial ruling on Princess Caroline, the difficult relationship with the German constitutional court and Turkey's exemplary ability to learn:

"I don't like to say we are a higher authority than the German courts; but when we have weighed things up and reached a decision, then that's it, and we will reach the same decision again in analogous cases. If an individual - such as Princess Caroline - no longer has a public function and asks us to protect her privacy, she will be granted this in similar cases. … Since we got involved in this discussion with the German constitutional court, we've seen an increasing number of enquiries from other states - from Turkey and Poland - as to whether they have to abide by our decision in every detail. I'm not happy about that. … In Europe, modern sovereignty can only mean that the state, which includes the German state, recognises its limitations and subordinates itself to human rights, the principles of the rule of law and to democracy. We can no longer imagine any other form of sovereignty. … If there are increasing difficulties in implementing our rulings, it may be necessary to consider assigning a higher status to the Convention in Germany. Which, incidentally, most other countries have done. In Turkey, human rights have precedence over national legislation."

"Pact with East Asia"

SPIEGEL interview with financial state secretary Caio Koch-Weser about his expectations towards US financial policy and the forthcoming G20 summit:

"The dual deficit, in the national budget and the balance of payment of the United States, is very worrying. … We need a medium-term, sound and sustainable consolidation of the budget in the USA. … Of course we also need structural reforms in Europe, ones that will markedly increase our growth potential. … There are studies which, based on reasonable assumptions, suggest that within 40 years the gross national product of China, India, Russia and Brazil will be larger than the combined gross national product of today's G7, the group of the seven most important industrial nations. … We have the vision that, certainly in matters of economic and financial policy, the G20 will be the G7 of the future. … After all, the G20 group represents 90 percent of the world's gross national product, three quarters of world trade and two thirds of the world's population."

"Pure Madness in Perfection"

SPIEGEL in-depth interview with the head of ThyssenKrupp, Ekkehard Schulz, about the opportunities and risks of the world-wide steel boom, new global attackers and his anger at the German car industry as well as his displeasure with the environmental policies of Germany's Red/Green government:

"We are by now quite well-positioned with our three areas of business: steel, industrial goods and services. … I think the boom will last some time longer, even though the steel business will always remain subject to large cyclical fluctuations, however they will be smaller in future than they have been in the past. … China will be followed by India. And India perhaps by Africa. All these regions need an infrastructure. And infrastructures depend on steel. … Raw materials and energy now account for our highest costs. … This is why I believe the steel industry still faces a very tough shake-out."

"Squaring the Circle"

SPIEGEL interview with the renowned French expert on Islam Gilles Kepel about America's battle in Iraq:

"If the United States does not succeed in mobilising the Iraqi civilian society for itself in the long run, it runs the risk of turning the country into a new Vietnam. … Paradoxically Bin Laden is facing the same problem as Bush: he has to draw the Arab masses over to his side. … It is fatal that the Americans are now having to pay the price for the embargo under which Iraq suffered for over a decade. When the lid of the pressure chamber, in the form of Saddam, was blown away, it emerged that there was no Iraqi civilian society left, no middle class, only Mafia-like groups, clans, tribes, Sunni and Shia religious communities. This chaos, a direct result of the embargo, cannot be overcome using some magic wand. … In order to alter the situation to his favour, Bush has to restore his credibility - beyond Iraq, in the entire Arab world, because Iraq is not the key to everything, as Bush appears to believe. Arafat's demise could provide him with a golden opportunity for doing this."

"An Urge towards Higher Matters"

USA: Arnold Schwarzenegger is now in his brilliant third career as the governor of California. Even President Bush needs his support. The unbridled ambition of the Austrian immigrant is far from being satisfied. Of course California might still become prey to an earthquake. Of course the largest US state continues to be heavily in debt. But with this governor the eternal crisis can be good fun. An impressive 65 percent of Californians are now in favour of their governor. Things are like they were with Ronald Reagan, only much more entertaining. Schwarzenegger the charmer, the big leveller. He matches all the clichés that surround him. Yet he would never have made it this far in life if he were not also the opposite.

"Homeland Association without a Homeland"

In the days of the East German state, the youth association FDJ had more than two million members. Now there are only 150 left. They are fighting against the Federal Republic of Germany and in support of a new worker's state. In order not to let up in the battle against the eternal class enemy, the young guard visit seminars where they are trained in friendship among nations. FDJ veterans from the days of the GDR come and teach Marxism and Leninism. Every week, new campaigns for peace on earth are planned at regional meetings. And this is where the only sign of progress is apparent: in these days when one is free to travel anywhere, the young-old comrades have overcome the Wall. Today the FDJ exists not only in Berlin, Görlitz and Leipzig, but also in Bremen, Frankfurt am Main and Munich.

"Living in a Sweat Lodge"

Construction technology: Daring palaces of glass shoot skywards in cities. A new study demonstrates that the transparent towers squander energy - their need for cooling, in particular, is horrendous. Their Achilles heel is excess light. The sun's rays can pass through the transparent facades unhindered. The rooms inside are heated up like greenhouses. The effect is heightened by internal heat sources from computing, in-house technology and lighting.

"Time Machine on the Ocean Floor"

Astronomy: Physicists from Munich have discovered the remains of a star in the deep sea. Did the dying sun once help give birth to mankind? The death of the sun occurred 2.8 million years ago. At the end of its long, fiery life, the ageing star swelled up one last time. Strikingly enough, a drastic change in climate occurred on Earth at just the time when the neighbouring sun exploded. As a result of this climate shock, the hominid group split up. Some members dared to leave the cover of the jungle for the open grasslands. Faced by the threat of starvation and by predators, they suddenly started manufacturing tools and hunting weapons - and thus began the rise of human beings.

"New Trees for the Country"

Genetic engineering: Researchers all over the world are tinkering with the genes of poplars, sweet chestnuts and eucalyptus tress. Such designer copses are to revolutionise forestry, clean up soils and make paper production more environmentally friendly. Conservationists are concerned about a "silent wood" full of laboratory trees.

"Fire Your Managers, Girls!"

SPIEGEL interview with American singer Nancy Sinatra about her career, her new CD, which was recorded in association with various celebrities, and about what advice she would give young stars like Britney Spears:

"You get used to people writing and saying nasty things about you as you get older. Ten years ago, some of the things would have had me in tears, but these days I'm much more relaxed about it... It's no fun being the product of other people, believe me. And the business has become incredibly more vicious over the past few decades. There are no decent radio stations left in the US anymore. Only idiotic talk shows and formatted programmes with oldies or classical music. The up-and-coming generation is in a sorry position these days."

"The Art of Seduction"

Soccer: The club FC Barcelona is turning out with a modern management and a team that sets standards within Europe. While the light of its arch-rival Real Madrid is fading, the Catalonian team has spectators into raptures. Experts widely agree that FC Barcelona is the latest craze in Europe - the team plays the most exciting game of football of the new century. While the style of arch-rival Real Madrid, with its wickedly expensive superstars, is already viewed as old hat, "Barça" displays a perfect mix of filigree technique executed by elegant individual talents on the one hand, and systematic teamwork on the other.